MASUK-MONROE
PANTHERS

14-26

Quarterbacks Brian Kiraly (left) and Mike Malandra (right)
throw the ball during practice.

The Masuk Panthers rolled into Southbury for the third
game of the season. Favorites to win the conference,
defending conference and Class L State champions, the
duel would consist of two red teams named the
Panthers. The game represented a physical style of
"Smash Mouth" football that has described Pomperaug
and Masuk through the years. The game began harshly
for Pomperaug. After a key defensive stop, Masuk
punter Justin Wolf stepped in and boomed a
70-yard punt that bounced, rolled and lay motionless
at the Pomperaug 1-yard line. Unable to move the ball for a first down,
Pomperaug was forced to punt from it's own end zone. The  heavy
rush of Masuk redirected Mike Henriques punt, and Masuk got good
field position at about the Pomperaug 20-yard line. Two plays later,
Senior fullback John Galvin  (10 carries, 47-yards, TD) broke
two tackles and made his way 19-yards into the end zone. Brady
Simpson shanked the extra point and the visiting Panthers led
Pomperaug 6-0 with about eight minutes left in the first quarter. Later,
in the second quarter, Pomperaug went to work. After holding the
explosive Masuk offense in check for most of the half, Pomperaug
found it's chance to break the stalemate when powerful Junior fullback
Bryan Shalvoy (14 carries,119-yards) broke two tackles and found an
opening in the secondary. He proceeded to show his great speed by
taking the run 56-yards to the Masuk 3-yard line. However, the Masuk
defense held strong on first and second down as Shalvoy attempted
to smash his way into the end zone. On third down, Pomperaug faked
the dive and Junior Quarterback Joe Pugh (7-9,124-yards, 2 TD)
rolled right and threw a 1-yard touchdown strike to Senior receiver
Mike Henriques (5 rec, 102-yards, 2 TD) in the back of the end zone.
The extra point was good by Senior kicker Mike Frantz and
Pomperaug led high scoring Masuk 7-6 at the break. However, with an
angry pep talk from John Murphy and a defensive change, Masuk
came out fired up for the second half, returning the opening kickoff
past everyone but kicker Mike Frantz and grinded out a 13 play
drive. The final play of the drive was key for Masuk. Facing a
3rd-and-long situation, Junior Quarterback Mike Malandra rolled to
his left, avoided a sack and hit Justin Wolf, his large target
Tight End in the end zone for 15-yard touchdown pass and a 12-7
lead. Pomperaug, much like earlier games in the season was far from
beaten. Driving all the way to the Masuk 2-yard line, the team was
penalized on a false start and sent back to the 9-yard line. Two
unsuccessful plays later, Coach Drury made the call to fake a field goal
and run holder Joe Pugh and halfback/backup kicker CJ Orrico on an
option. The Masuk defense stood tough though, and were able to
knock Orrico out of bounds a yard shy of the goal line. Masuk knew they
could not let the pesky Pomperaug team stick around and they began
to mix their bread & butter plays. In the fourth quarter, with 7:27
left, the strategy worked and Sophomore running back Mike
DeRosa (9 carries, 99-yards, TD) swept around the right side
of his big line and proceeded down field to a 61-yard touchdown run
that piled up a massive amount of jukes, changes in direction and
missed tackles by the Pomperaug defense. Kyle Schwartz came in and
booted the extra point and Masuk was quick to taunt the home
team's sidelines as they lead 19-6. After Justin Wolf laced into the
football and sent it sailing out of the end zone for a touchback,
the Pomperaug Panthers decided to take it to the weakness of the
powerful Masuk defense, the secondary. On the first play of the
ensuing drive, Joe Pugh dropped back and hit Mike Henriques on a fade
pattern that ended with a foot race down the sidelines and an
80-yard touchdown reception. Frantz kicked the extra point, and with
just 7:17 left in the game the score was a close 19-14. On defense, the
team would receive key stops from the front four, Pete Licnikas,
Matt Rinaldi, Steve Herrick and Tom Attanasio on first and second
downs. However, on the later downs, Masuk seemed to find the first
down marker, highlighted by a one-handed grab by Junior running
back Brady Simpson after the ball had been tipped and was falling out of
bounds. The drive ended with Senior receiver Joe Cavanaugh's
(7 carries, 17-yards, TD) 5-yard touchdown run with 1:06 left in
the game and Schwartz kicked the extra point, ending a
fine game in a saddening 26-14 defeat of Pomperaug.

Bryan Shalvoy bust through
tacklers on his way to a 59-yard run.

(left) Mike Henriques gains yards after making a catch.
(right) Joe Cavanaugh knocks down a pass as he covers
Mike Henriques in the end zone.

Senior Fullback John Galvin rushes
towards the end zone in the first half

Back